Assessing "dangerous climate change": required reduction of carbon emissions to protect young people, future generations and nature

Recent tropical Andean glacier retreat is unprecedented in the Holocene

Tropical glaciers have retreated over recent decades, but whether the magnitude of this retreat exceeds the bounds of Holocene fluctuations is unclear. We measured cosmogenic beryllium-10 and carbon-14 concentrations in recently exposed bedrock at the margin of four glaciers spanning the tropical Andes to reconstruct their past extents relative to today. Nuclide concentrations are near zero in almost all samples, suggesting that these locations were never exposed during the Holocene. Our data imply that many glaciers in the tropics are probably now smaller than they have been in at least 11,700 years, making the tropics the first large region where this milestone has been documented.

Green space exposure and Chinese residents' physical activity participation: empirical evidence from a health geography perspective

Background

With continuous efforts made to promote the strategic goals of carbon neutrality and carbon peak, it is crucial to meet the growing and diversified needs of the public for fitness by practicing the concept of green development and promote the combination of national fitness and ecological civilization.

Methods

To achieve this purpose, an OLS regression model was applied to estimate the role of green space exposure in Chinese residents' participation in physical activity and its underlying mechanisms, using the microdata from the China General Social Survey (CGSS) data and the Provincial Vegetation Cover Index (NDVI) matched macrostatistical data.

Results

The empirical results show that green space exposure significantly increases the probability of residents' physical activity participation, and creating a green environment is conducive to creating a favorable physical activity environment for residents. Also, the core conclusions still hold after the year-by-year regression test is passed and the endogeneity problem is addressed. As revealed by mechanistic studies, green space exposure has indirect effects on the physical activity participation of residents through the independent mediating roles of reducing carbon emissions and promoting social interaction. According to heterogeneity results, males, those in marriage, and urban dweller groups are more inclined to perform physical activity in green spaces.

Conclusion

The results show that the exposure of green space can help increase the probability of residents' participation in physical exercise, and can that it achieved through two channels: reducing carbon emissions and enhancing social interaction. It is necessary to further strengthen the protection of the ecological lifestyle, give full play to the advantages of greenness and low-carbon, and create favorable conditions for the green development of a new model of national fitness.

Climate mitigation potential of cover crops in the United States is regionally concentrated and lower than previous estimates

Widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture practices is an integral part of the US plan to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. National incentives have particularly increased for the adoption of cover crops (CCs), which have presumably large carbon (C) sequestration potential. However, assessments of national CC climate benefits have not fully considered regional variability, changing C sequestration rates over time, and potential N2O trade-offs. Using the DayCent soil biogeochemical model and current national survey data, we estimate CC climate change mitigation potential to be 39.0 ± 24.1 Mt CO2e year-1, which is 45%-65% lower than previous estimates, with large uncertainty attributed to N2O impacts. Three-fourths of this climate change mitigation potential is concentrated in the North Central, Southern Great Plains and Lower Mississippi regions. Public investment should be focused in these regions to maximize CC climate benefits, but the national contribution of CC to emissions targets may be lower than previously anticipated.

Advancing climate-resilient flood mitigation: Utilizing transformer-LSTM for water level forecasting at pumping stations

Proactive management of pumping stations using artificial intelligence (AI) technology is vital for effectively mitigating the impacts of flood events caused by climate change. Accurate water level forecasts are pivotal in advancing the intelligent operation of pumping stations. This study proposed a novel Transformer-LSTM model to offer accurate multi-step-ahead forecasts of the flood storage pond (FSP) and river water levels for the Zhongshan pumping station in Taipei, Taiwan. A total of 19,647 ten-minute-based datasets of pumping operation and storm sewer, FSP, and river water levels were collected between 2014 and 2020 and further divided into training (70 %), validation (10 %), and test (20 %) datasets for model construction. The results demonstrate that the proposed model dramatically outperforms benchmark models by producing more accurate and reliable water level forecasts at 10-minute (T + 1) to 60-minute (T + 6) horizons. The proposed model effectively enhances the connections between input factors through the Transformer module and increases the connectivity across consecutive time series using the LSTM module. This study reveals interconnected dynamics among pumping operation and storm sewer, FSP, and river water levels, enhancing flood management. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective execution of management strategies and infrastructure revitalization against climate impacts. The Transformer-LSTM model's forecasts encourage water practices, resilience, and disaster risk reduction for extreme weather events.

Translating purpose and mindset into positive impact through shared vision, compassion, and energy-a comparative study of seven organizations

How do organizations that explicitly state the intention to be "positive impact companies" differ from traditional entrepreneurial companies? How does the quality of relationships in those companies affect the ability to deliver positive impact? This study explores the conditions under which business leaders turn their organizations toward generating prosperity for all stakeholders, achieving positive societal outcomes, improving human wellbeing, and delivering great business results. Seven case study companies are examined based on interviews with three executives from each firm, including the CEO. All seven companies are privately owned small/medium sized businesses from a cross section of industries and diverse geographic bases, ranging from Michigan to the Pacific Northwest, to Singapore, Egypt, and Florida. Four of the companies are considered "positive impact companies" (PICs) based on their organizational affiliations, while the other three are considered traditional entrepreneurial companies (TECs). The overall findings suggest that the core of positive impact leadership resides in a shift in the mindset of leaders toward one of connectedness and purpose, and that these factors influence the quality of relationships in organizations in a positive way whether the company is considered a PIC or a TEC. The results also suggest a close relationship between several core indicators of a fundamental shift in understanding about the role of business in society: shared values of human wellbeing, a common shared vision, an emphasis on collaboration and caring in organizations, and a long-term perspective toward the creation of shared economic prosperity.

Annals of Education: Teaching Climate Change and Global Public Health

The climate crisis is a health emergency: breaking temperature records every successive month, increasing mortality from hurricanes/cyclones resulting in >USD150 billion/year in damages, and mounting global loss of life from floods, droughts, and food insecurity. An entire course on climate change and global public health was envisioned, designed for students in public health, and delivered to Masters level students. The course content included the physical science behind global heating, heat waves, extreme weather disasters, arthropod-related diseases, allergies, air pollution epidemiology, melting ice and sea level rise, climate denialism, renewable energy and economics, social cost of carbon, and public policy. The methods included student engagement in presenting two air pollution epidemiological or experimental papers on fossil fuel air pollution. Second, they authored a mid-term paper on a specific topic in the climate crisis facing their locale, e.g., New York City. Third, they focused on a State, evaluating their climate change laws and their plans to harness renewable wind, solar, storage, nuclear, and geothermal energy. Students elsewhere covered regional entities' approach to renewable energy. Fourth, the global impact was presented by student teams presenting a country's nationally determined contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement. Over 200 Master's students completed the course; the participation and feedback demonstrated markedly improved knowledge and evaluation of the course over time.

Low-cost air, noise, and light pollution measuring station with wireless communication and tinyML

Different types of environmental pollution cause negative consequences to ecosystems throughout the globe, which humanity is now trying to mitigate. It is necessary to know the level of pollution problems in the immediate environment, to evaluate the impact of human activities, and mitigation strategies necessary to ensure habitability. For this reason, in this work, a low-cost pollution measurement station for outdoor or indoor use is proposed and developed that measures air pollution (particulate matter and CO2 ), noise (level and direction), light pollution (power and multispectral), and also relative humidity and ambient temperature. The system stores the data in an SD memory or transmits data in real-time to the internet via WiFi. The purposes of the system are to be used in environmental studies, to deploy monitoring networks, or to ensure the habitability of a living or working space. The prototype integrates the measurement of the different sources of contamination in a single compact device at USD$ 628.12 without sacrificing measurement accuracy. The system is validated for each variable with reference equipment, obtaining an average error of approximately 2.67% in the measurement of all the variables measured. The system is easy to assemble and has an option for power supply using solar photovoltaic devices and an alternative for connection to 2G/3G mobile networks.

Prolonged war reverses carbon emissions from an early decline to a late increase - Evidence from Syria

Given that war can have a serious impact on the climate, this article is aimed to discuss the impact of warfare on carbon emissions by examining changes in CO2 before and during the war in Syria based on the kaya constant equation and the LMDI decomposition method. In the decade before the war, population was the largest contributor, making up 32.64% of the total 51.02% increase in carbon emissions. The only factor that offsetting carbon emissions was energy intensity, making a 22.30% curbing effect. In the early stage of the war, carbon emissions decreased by 56.38%, in which per capita GDP contributed 37.55% of the total CO2 decline. Carbon intensive of energy was the only factor promoting the carbon increase with a 4.67% contribution. In the late war, carbon emissions start to resume slow increase with energy intensity and economy turning negative to positive. It can be speculated that the impact of the war on CO2 emissions: (i) in the first years of the war, CO2 would drop significantly at the cost of significant population decline and economic recession, the least desirable and the worst way to reduce carbon emissions. (ii) if evolves into a prolonged war, it would reverse carbon emissions from decline to increase, although the population and the economy are both falling. This research, therefore contends that once war is triggered, there is no other solution to prevent this worst-case scenario of Population Decline - Economic Recession - Increased Carbon Emissions from happening, unless the war is stopped immediately.

Club convergence analysis of fossil fuels material footprint at the global level

Material footprint is vital for playing a role in increasing the pace of climate change and the sustainability of development efforts. Fossil fuels material footprint (FFMF) remains a critical indicator of environment-friendly economic development. Fossil fuels have also retained their dominance as prominent drivers of global growth since the Industrial Revolution. FFMF levels show considerable variations in economic growth worldwide as awareness of sustainability and climate change propagates. Although biomass/carbon emission convergence have been discussed extensively in the existing literature, FFMF convergence is still scanty despite its vital role in climate change. Hence, this study adds to the existing literature by examining the convergence of FFMF for 154 countries for the period from 1970 to 2019 using club convergence analysis. The results show that FFMF converges to a single steady state, stating a symmetric decline in FFMF growth. Further, the findings from sigma and beta tests are consistent with the main results. Thus, the demonstrated convergence of FFMF directs that global efforts regarding FFMF control should be continued. Moreover, future climate change policies should also be formulated to enhance the awareness of FFMF and long-term sustainability.

The impact of energy security on environmental degradation: new evidence from developing countries

This study investigates the energy security and income roles in testing environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for developing countries from 1990 to 2019. The panel quantile regression approaches are employed to examine the relationship between the variables, considering that income and energy security effects on carbon emissions may vary across distributions. Findings revealed that the EKC hypothesis was inconsistent at low and high quantiles when estimating energy availability, affordability, and acceptability. The validity of inverted U-shaped EKC is supported at high quantiles for energy affordability and accessibility in developing countries. However, given the energy accessibility and acceptability, the EKC hypothesis becomes invalid in developing countries. Notably, developing countries have yet to progress toward achieving energy security as a switch component to low carbon emissions. This study contributes to the literature by revealing the effect of availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability of energy security on carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). Thus, it suggests implications for improving environmental quality in developing countries by enhancing energy security. Diversifying energy sources with nuclear, renewable, and developing technologies reduces dependence risks on a single source while improving efficiency through technology and demand management lowers carbon emissions and strengthens energy security. Beyond energy security, this study emphasises sustainable urban planning to promote compact development, effective transportation, and green infrastructure to reduce energy use and improve environmental sustainability, ultimately reducing carbon emissions.

From stressor to protector, UV-induced abiotic stress resistance

Plants are continuously exposed to combinations of abiotic and biotic stressors. While much is known about responses to individual stressors, understanding of plant responses to combinations of stressors is limited. The effects of combined exposure to drought and UV radiation are particularly relevant in the context of climate change. In this study it was explored whether UV-exposure can be used as a tool to prime stress-resistance in plants grown under highly protected culture conditions. It was hypothesised that priming mint plantlets (Mentha spicata L.) with a low-dose of UV irradiance can alleviate the drought effect caused by a change in humidity upon transplanting. Plants were grown for 30 days on agar in sealed tissue culture containers. During this period, plants were exposed to ~ 0.22 W m-2 UV-B for 8 days, using either UV-blocking or UV- transmitting filters. Plants were then transplanted to soil and monitored for a further 7 days. It was found that non-UV exposed mint plants developed necrotic spots on leaves, following transfer to soil, but this was not the case for plants primed with UV. Results showed that UV induced stress resistance is associated with an increase in antioxidant capacity, as well as a decrease in leaf area. UV-induced stress resistance can be beneficial in a horticultural setting, where priming plants with UV-B can be used as a tool in the production of commercial crops.

Tetracene Dimers: A Platform for Intramolecular Down- and Up-conversion

Photon energy conversion can be accomplished in many different ways, including the two opposing manners, down-conversion (i.e., singlet fission, SF) and up-conversion (i.e., triplet-triplet annihilation up-conversion, TTA-UC). Both processes have the potential to help overcome the detailed balance limit of single-junction solar cells. Tetracene, in which the energies of the lowest singlet excited state and twice the triplet excited state are comparable, exhibits both down- and up-conversion. Here, we have designed meta-diethynylphenylene- and 1,3-diethynyladamantyl-linked tetracene dimers, which feature different electronic coupling, to characterize the interplay between intramolecular SF (intra-SF) and intramolecular TTA-UC (intra-TTA-UC) via steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, we have used Pd-phthalocyanine as a sensitizer to enable intra-TTA-UC in the two dimers via indirect photoexcitation in the near-infrared part of the solar spectrum. The work is rounded off by temperature-dependent measurements, which outline key aspects of how thermal effects impact intra-SF and intra-TTA-UC in different dimers.

Xanthan biopolymer-based soil treatment effect on kaolinite clay fabric and structure using XRD analysis

In this study, we evaluated the impact of xanthan gum biopolymer (XG) on kaolinite fabrics using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the ensuing changes in the compaction behavior and shear resistance of kaolinite soils. The XRD peak analysis revealed that XG changed kaolinite fabrics into face-to-face associations. Moreover, environmental scanning electron microscopy showed the formation of XG-bridges between kaolinite particles, resulting in the change in fabrics and subsequently improving the resistance of kaolinite to external forces. Consequently, as XG content increased, the maximum dry density decreased, and the undrained shear strength increased. The viscous XG hydrogels produced a higher optimal moisture content and increased resistance to shear force. This study showed that XG affects the mechanical properties of kaolinite through changing kaolinite fabrics (up to 0.5% of the XG-to-kaolinite mass ratio) and absorbing pore-fluids (excess XG over 0.5% of the XG-to-kaolinite mass ratio).

A New Model of Learning: Environmental Health in a Global World

INTRODUCTION

Environmental Health in a Global World at New York University was re-designed as a class participatory effort, challenging undergraduate students to understand environmental hazards and the resultant adverse health outcomes by embracing the inherent complexity of environmental risks and proposing solutions.

METHODS

Following introductory lectures, students are placed into teams and assigned a specific perspective, or avatar, which includes learning to see the challenge from the perspective of a technical expert such as a biologist, an engineer, or an anthropologist. The teams then design specific systems maps to visualize the complex interactions that lead to adverse health outcomes after a given environmental exposure. The maps highlight potential leverage points where relatively minor interventions can provide a disproportionate benefit in health outcomes. The teams then explore potential interventions and identify the potential unintended consequences of those actions, develop and advocate for innovative new strategies to mitigate risk and improve outcomes.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Over the past 5 years, we have taught this methodology to over 680 students with strong, student-oriented results. The teams created and presented more than 100 strategies, addressing a diverse set of environmental challenges that include water contamination, gun violence, air pollution, environmental justice, health security, and climate change. Developing the strategies helped the students understand environmental threats in a more holistic way, provided them with some agency in finding solutions, and offered an opportunity for them to improve their presentation skills. The responses in course evaluations have been enthusiastic, with many students reporting a deep impact on their college experience.

Comparative investigation of gas sensing performance of liquefied petroleum gas using green reduced graphene oxide-based sensors

Herein, we report the comparative gas sensing performance (at room temperature) of reduced graphene oxide sensors obtained by reducing graphene oxide using extracts of pumpkin leaf, neem leaf and methionine. An interdigitated pattern was designed on soda-lime glass using a stamp method and the dispersed solution of rGO was spin coated on the pattern. The electrical response of the sensors was investigated (using a simple in-house measurement set up) by measuring change in resistance of graphene with varying gas concentration on exposure to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). From the characterization results using FTIR, SEM, EDX and UV-Visible, methionine reduced graphene oxide (MRGO 12H) indicated a greater degree of reduction compared to pumpkin reduced graphene oxide (PRGO 12H) and neem reduced graphene oxide (NRGO 12H). The LPG sensing results showed an increase in the resistance of the sensor materials upon the introduction of the gas and, an increased sensitivity as the concentration of the test gas increased from 100 ppm to 200 ppm while the MRGO 12H sensor was more selective towards LPG sensing. Furthermore, it was observed that the sensor response for the fabricated sensors is strongly dependent on the concentration of gas exposed to the sensors and the degree of removal of oxygen functional groups in the graphene-based materials. Hence, the MRGO 12H sensor had a sensor response of 23.58% at 200 ppm. PRGO 12H at 100 ppm illustrates the least sensor response while NRGO 12H showed very poor sensor response that ranged between 5.10% and 7.56%. The sensor response of the materials demonstrates an improvement in results obtained for pure rGO based sensors. We obtained a response time as low as 5.3 seconds for MRGO 12H while the recovery time of the sensors ranged between 6.46 seconds and 41.50 seconds. The MRGO 12H sensor typified the best recovery time and thus outperformed results from most of the reported literature. Considering different performance metrics such as sensor response, response time, recovery time and sensing period, MRGO 12H is more selective towards detecting LPG. Our results showed that a greater restoration of the sp² carbon chain brought about by increased reduction of graphene oxide is largely responsible for the sensing behavior of rGO towards LPG.

Dopant-induced electronic design of redox-active elements in LiMn2O4 spinel structures

Despite the importance of the electronic-level design of inorganic cathode materials for high-performance secondary batteries, studies attempting to clarify the correlation between the electronic structure and performance are relatively scarce compared to the broad range of inorganic cathode materials developed to date. This study highlights that the symmetricity/asymmetricity of e_g/t_2g orbitals in redox-active elements would be a core factor to determine the degree of the Jahn-Teller distortion of LiM_0.125Mn_1.875O₄ (M = Mn, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Ni) spinel-type cathode materials during the discharging process. The presence of redox-active Mn³⁺ ions accompanied by a significant collapse in the symmetry of orbital e_g during the discharging process is highlighted as the main reason for poor structural durability and electrochemical performance of the cathode material. This limitation can be most effectively overcome by removing Mn³⁺ ions by adding Ni²⁺ as a carefully selected dopant. Further investigation reveals that the electrochemical impact of the introduced dopants strongly relies on the change in the symmetricity/asymmetricity of their e_g/t_2g orbital configurations during the discharging process and the resultant energy benefit/penalty.

Divergent Energy-Climate Nexus in the Global Fuel Combustion Processes

Fuel combustion provides basic energy for the society but also produces CO₂ and incomplete combustion products that threaten human survival, climate change, and global sustainability. A variety of fuels burned in different facilities expectedly have distinct impacts on climate, which remains to be quantitatively assessed. This study uses updated emission inventories and an earth system model to evaluate absolute and relative contributions in combustion emission-associated climate forcing by fuels, sectors, and regions. We showed that, from 1970 to 2014, coal burned in the energy sector and oil used in the transportation sector contributed comparable energies consumed (24 and 20% of the total) but had distinct climate forcing (1 and 40%, respectively). Globally, coal burned for energy production had negative impacts on climate forcing but positive effects in the residential sector. In many developing countries, coal combustion in the energy sector had negative radiative forcing (RF) per unit energy consumed due to insufficient controls on sulfur and scattering aerosol levels, but oils in the transportation sector had high positive RF values. These results had important implications on the energy transition and emission reduction actions in response to climate change. Distinct climate efficiencies of energies and the spatial heterogeneity implied differentiated energy utilization strategies and pollution control policies by region and sector.

Information Disclosure Impacts Intention to Consume Man-Made Meat: Evidence from Urban Residents' Intention to Man-Made Meat in China

Meat substitutes such as man-made meat are emerging to promote low-carbon healthy consumption, mitigate climate change, and assist healthy economic development; however, most consumers seem reluctant to make the transition. While profound social change may be required to make significant progress in this area, limited efforts have been made to understand the psychological processes that may hinder or facilitate this transition. To clearly identify the factors influencing the public's intention to consume man-made meat and their influencing paths, this study analyzes the mechanism by which man-made meat information disclosure affects the public's intention to consume these products based on the social cognitive theory of "awareness-situation-behavior" and using structural equation modeling, with residents of seven Chinese cities as examples (647 respondents). The results of this study yielded three main findings. First, low-carbon awareness, personal social responsibility awareness, and man-made meat risk perception significantly influence the public's intention to consume man-made meat, with risk perception having the greatest influence (-0.434). Second, low-carbon awareness and man-made meat risk perception have a significant interaction effect on the public's intention to consume man-made meat (-0.694). Third, man-made meat information disclosure has the most significant moderating effect on the relationship between low-carbon awareness and the public's intention to consume man-made meat, as well as a moderating effect on the relationship between man-made meat risk perception and the public's intention to consume man-made meat.

Topsoil Carbon Stocks in Urban Greenspaces of The Hague, the Netherlands

Urbanization influences soil carbon (C) stocks and flows, which, in turn, affect soil-derived ecosystem services. This paper explores soil C storage in urban greenspaces in the Dutch city of The Hague along a transect from the suburban seaside towards the city centre, reflecting a toposequence from dune to peaty inland soils. C storage and C mineralisation potential were evaluated in relation to soil type and greenspace categories. Several soil-quality characteristics were measured, including dissolved organic C, pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, calcium carbonate, and the water-holding capacity of the soil to evaluate what drives soil C storage in the urban context. The total SOC storage of the upper 30 cm of the greenspaces in The Hague (20.8 km2 with 37% greenspace) was estimated at 78.4 kt, which was significantly higher than assumed given their soil types. Degradability of soil organic matter in laboratory batch tests varied between 0.2 and 3 mg C gSOC−1 day−1. Degradability was highest in the seaside dune soils; however, extrapolated to the topsoil using the bulk density, topsoil C mineralization was higher in the urban forest. Soils beneath shrubs appeared to be hotspots for C storage, accounting for only 13% of the aerial cover but reflecting 24% of the total C storage. Land ownership, land use, greenspaces size, litter management and soil type did not result in significantly different C stocks, suggesting that processes driving urban soil C storage are controlled by different factors, namely land cover and the urbanization extent.

Emission Factors of CO2 and Airborne Pollutants and Toxicological Potency of Biofuels for Airplane Transport: A Preliminary Assessment

Aviation is one of the sectors affecting climate change, and concerns have been raised over the increase in the number of flights all over the world. To reduce the climate impact, efforts have been dedicated to introducing biofuel blends as alternatives to fossil fuels. Here, we report environmentally relevant data on the emission factors of biofuel/fossil fuel blends (from 13 to 17% v/v). Moreover, in vitro direct exposure of human bronchial epithelial cells to the emissions was studied to determine their potential intrinsic hazard and to outline relevant lung doses. The results show that the tested biofuel blends do not reduce the emissions of particles and other chemical species compared to the fossil fuel. The blends do reduce the elemental carbon (less than 40%) and total volatile organic compounds (less than 30%) compared to fossil fuel emissions. The toxicological outcomes show an increase in oxidative cellular response after only 40 min of exposure, with biofuels causing a lower response compared to fossil fuels, and lung-deposited doses show differences among the fuels tested. The data reported provide evidence of the possibility to reduce the climate impact of the aviation sector and contribute to the risk assessment of biofuels for aviation.

The impact of climate change on photovoltaic power potential in Southwestern Colombia

In this paper, we present the first study of the long-term climate-change impact on photovoltaic power potential in Nariño, Colombia. In this region, more than half of the territory does not have a constant electricity supply, but it has great potential for solutions with renewable energy sources. Based on the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX), we assess the change in photovoltaic power potential towards the end of this century, considering two climate change scenarios, one optimistic and the other pessimistic. Our results suggest that changes in photovoltaic power potential, by the end of the century, will have a maximum decrease of around 2.49% in the central zone of Nariño, with some non-affected areas, and a maximum increase of 2.52% on the southeastern side with respect to the pessimistic climate change scenario.

Revealing the transmission mechanism and spatial spillover of carbon emission reduction caused by high-speed rail opening

In the context of China’s commitment to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, as well as its strategy to build a strong transportation country, it is of foremost importance to study the carbon emission reduction effect of the opening of high-speed rail (HSR). This paper innovatively introduces the frequency of HSR stops as an indicator of HSR operation, and uses a time-varying difference-in-difference (DID) model, a mediating effect model and a spatial DID model to assess the direct and indirect impact, transmission mechanism, and spatial spillover effects of the opening and operation of HSR on carbon emission reduction based on a panel of 279 prefecture-level cities from 2003 to 2017. We found that the opening and operation of HSR significantly reduced urban carbon emissions. The direct transmission mechanism analysis shows that the opening of HSR can reduce carbon emissions by replacing highway passenger traffic. Indirect mechanism analysis shows that the opening of HSR can reduce carbon emissions through technological effect, structural effect and opening effect. The test of spatial spillover effect shows that the opening of HSR can promote carbon emission reduction not only in node cities, but also in neighboring cities.

Give Up Flights? Psychological Predictors of Intentions and Policy Support to Reduce Air Travel

Concerted, timely action for mitigating climate change is of uttermost importance to keep global warming as close to 1.5°C as possible. Air traffic already plays a strong role in driving climate change and is projected to grow-with only limited technical potential for decarbonizing this means of transport. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the expansion of air traffic or even facilitate a reduction in affluent countries. Effective policies and behavioral change, especially among frequent flyers, can help to lower greenhouse gas emissions. For both, a positive evaluation and public support is indispensable. This study contributes to understanding air travel behavior and the perception of regulative policies. We examined the role of attitudes, perceived behavioral control, efficacy, global identity, and justice concerns for intentions to avoid flights and aviation-related environmental policy support. We conducted an online survey study with a quota sample of N = 2,530 participants in Germany. The strongest positive predictors of intentions to refrain from flying and policy support were perceived behavioral control to travel without flying, efficacy beliefs that avoiding air travel contributes to climate change mitigation, and intergenerational justice concerns; pro-travel attitude was a negative predictor. Moreover, we tested whether the provision of additional information on climate impact, global and intranational inequalities as well as subsidies (implying intranational inequality) affected the intention to avoid air travel and policy support. We found no effects of the different types of information. Nor did we find an interaction between the type of information provided and global or national identity. Our results highlight the need for a shift within the mobility sector that facilitates attractive and accessible transport alternatives in order to strengthen people's behavioral control to choose other means than planes and their efficacy perceptions. Moreover, raising awareness of the impacts of climate change on future generations and developing strategies to promote people's concern for intergenerational justice might motivate people to reduce air travel and thereby contribute to a livable future for new generations.

Investigation of economic and financial determinants of carbon emissions by panel quantile regression analysis: the case of Visegrád countries

This study determines the impacts of gross domestic product, domestic bank credits given to private sector, and military expenditures on carbon emissions based on 1990-2019 time period. The panel quantile regression approach is applied for the Visegrád group countries. Our empirical results reveal that domestic bank credit given to private sector has a positive and meaningful impact on carbon emissions at medium and high quantile levels. On the other hand, it has been determined that gross domestic product has a reducing impact on carbon emissions, but military expenditures have an increasing impact on carbon emissions. Besides, as consequences of such tests, the difference between the quantiles, that is, the heterogeneous structure was revealed. A separate model was created with a different panel quantile approach for robustness control, and the results were compared by giving different values to penalty term. These results provide strong evidence for decision-makers and implementers.

Towards smart sustainable cities using Li-Fi technology: geo-location infrastructure utilizing LED street lights

BACKGROUND

Cities are shifting toward providing more efficient services and the Internet of Things (IoT) becoming the future of things. The shift toward using eco-friendlier LED lights in lighting cities is another genuine game-changer in the future of Light Fidelity technology (Li-Fi). Li-Fi is a visible light communication (VLC) technology that uses Light Emitting Diodes (LED) bulbs for communication. The utilisation of thousands of light sources around a city acting as wireless access points and delivering location-based content will shift cities towards being smart sustainable cities. Recently, this technology got huge attention from the research community and different research has been conducted to improve this filed. However, there is a noticeable need to develop real-world systems that utilise Li-Fi technology.

METHODS

This article aims to contribute to developing a Geo-Li-Fi system that uses LED lights to provide the services for collecting contextual data and delivering location-based services (LBS) in different areas of the city. The system is described along with details of its design, implementation and development. Moreover, the overall set-up of the testbed that used to evaluate the proposed system is presented. In addition, an experiment is conducted using a real-world scenario to test the functionality of the system and report the outputs.

RESULTS

The effect of the system is discussed according to different aspects of sustainability which include economic, social and environmental aspects. The system was tested in indoor and outdoor environments, and it can be seen that the sunlight does not affect the ability of LEDs to deliver the content during the daytime. Regarding the transmission range of the LED lamp, it can be seen that it is affected by different factors. It depends mainly on the power of lamp, so it will be increased significantly when the power of LED is increased. Also, an increase in the beam angle will result in wider coverage area which affected by the intensity.

Strategic Investment in Open Hardware for National Security

Free and open-source hardware (FOSH) development has been shown to increase innovation and reduce economic costs. This article reviews the opportunity to use FOSH as a sanction to undercut imports and exports from a target criminal country. A formal methodology is presented for selecting strategic national investments in FOSH development to improve both national security and global safety. In this methodology, first the target country that is threatening national security or safety is identified. Next, the top imports from the target country as well as potentially other importing countries (allies) are quantified. Hardware is identified that could undercut imports/exports from the target country. Finally, methods to support the FOSH development are enumerated to support production in a commons-based peer production strategy. To demonstrate how this theoretical method works in practice, it is applied as a case study to a current criminal military aggressor nation, who is also a fossil-fuel exporter. The results show that there are numerous existing FOSH and opportunities to develop new FOSH for energy conservation and renewable energy to reduce fossil-fuel-energy demand. Widespread deployment would reduce the concomitant pollution, human health impacts, and environmental desecration as well as cut financing of military operations.

Nanoporous Intermetallic SnTe Enables Efficient Electrochemical CO2 Reduction into Formate via Promoting the Fracture of Metal-Oxygen Bonding

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ into formate product is considered the most practical significance link in the carbon cycle. Developing cheap and efficient electrocatalysts with high selectivity for formate on a wide operated potential window is desirable yet challenging. Herein, nanoporous ordered intermetallic tin-tellurium (SnTe) is synthesized with a greater reduction performance for electrochemical CO₂ to formate reduction compared to bare Sn. This nanoporous SnTe achieves 93% Faradaic efficiency for formate production and maintains over 90% Faradaic efficiency at a wide voltage range from -1.0 to -1.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), together with 60 h stability. Combining operando Raman spectroscopy studies with density functional theory calculations reveals that strong orbital interaction between Sn and neighboring tellurium (Te) in the intermetallic SnTe can lower the barriers of the oxygen cutoff hydrogenation and desorption steps by promoting the fracture of bond between metal and oxygen, leading to the significant enhancement of formate production.

A systematic review of artificial reefs as platforms for coral reef research and conservation

Artificial reefs (ARs) have been used on coral reefs for ecological research, conservation, and socio-cultural purposes since the 1980s. We examined spatio-temporal patterns in AR deployment in tropical and subtropical coral reefs (up to 35° latitude) and evaluated their efficacy in meeting conservation objectives, using a systematic review of the scientific literature. Most deployments (136 studies) were in the North Atlantic and Central Indo-Pacific in 1980s – 2000s, with a pronounced shift to the Western Indo-Pacific in 2010s. Use of ARs in reef restoration or stressor mitigation increased markedly in response to accelerating coral decline over the last 2 decades. Studies that evaluated success in meeting conservation objectives (n = 51) commonly reported increasing fish abundance (55%), enhancing habitat quantity (31%) or coral cover (27%), and conserving target species (24%). Other objectives included stressor mitigation (22%), provision of coral nursery habitat (14%) or source populations (2%) and addressing socio-cultural and economic values (16%). Fish (55% of studies) and coral (53%) were the most commonly monitored taxa. Success in achieving conservation objectives was reported in 33 studies. Success rates were highest for provision of nursery habitat and increasing coral cover (each 71%). Increasing fish abundance or habitat quantity, mitigating environmental impacts, and attaining socio-cultural objectives were moderately successful (60–64%); conservation of target species was the least successful (42%). Failure in achieving objectives commonly was attributed to poor AR design or disruption by large-scale bleaching events. The scale of ARs generally was too small (m² –10s m²) to address regional losses in coral cover, and study duration too short (< 5 years) to adequately assess ecologically relevant trends in coral cover and community composition. ARs are mostly likely to aid in reef conservation and restoration by providing nursery habitat for target species or recruitment substrate for corals and other organisms. Promoting local socio-cultural values also has potential for regional or global impact by increasing awareness of coral reef decline, if prioritized and properly monitored.

Biased Estimates of Environmental Impact in the Negative Footprint Illusion: The Nature of Individual Variation

People consistently act in ways that harm the environment, even when believing their actions are environmentally friendly. A case in point is a biased judgment termed the negative footprint illusion, which arises when people believe that the addition of "eco-friendly" items (e.g., environmentally certified houses) to conventional items (e.g., standard houses), reduces the total carbon footprint of the whole item-set, whereas the carbon footprint is, in fact, increased because eco-friendly items still contribute to the overall carbon footprint. Previous research suggests this illusion is the manifestation of an "averaging-bias." We present two studies that explore whether people's susceptibility to the negative footprint illusion is associated with individual differences in: (i) environment-specific reasoning dispositions measured in terms of compensatory green beliefs and environmental concerns; or (ii) general analytic reasoning dispositions measured in terms of actively open-minded thinking, avoidance of impulsivity and reflective reasoning (indexed using the Cognitive Reflection Test; CRT). A negative footprint illusion was demonstrated when participants rated the carbon footprint of conventional buildings combined with eco-friendly buildings (Study 1 and 2) and conventional cars combined with eco-friendly cars (Study 2). However, the illusion was not identified in participants' ratings of the carbon footprint of apples (Study 1 and 2). In Studies 1 and 2, environment-specific dispositions were found to be unrelated to the negative footprint illusion. Regarding reflective thinking dispositions, reduced susceptibility to the negative footprint illusion was only associated with actively open-minded thinking measured on a 7-item scale (Study 1) and 17-item scale (Study 2). Our findings provide partial support for the existence of a negative footprint illusion and reveal a role of individual variation in reflective reasoning dispositions in accounting for a limited element of differential susceptibility to this illusion.

Converting CO2 into heterocyclic compounds under accelerated performance through Fe3O4 grafted ionic liquid catalysts

Solid supported catalysts such as amines has high demand for chemical fixation of CO2 into commodity chemicals. Here, we demonstrate an accelerated platform for 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU)-ionic liquids (ILs) catalyzed CO2...

Carboxylation of Alkenes and Alkynes Using CO2 as a Reagent: An Overview

:

CO2 fixation reactions are of paramount interest both from economical and environmental perspectives. As an abundant, non-toxic, and renewable C1 feedstock, CO2 can be utilized for the synthesis of fuels and commodity chemicals under elevated reaction conditions. The major challenge in the CO2 utilization reactions is its chemical inertness due to high thermodynamic stability and kinetic barrier. The carboxylation of unsaturated hydrocarbons with CO2 is an important transformation as it forms high-value reaction products having industrial as well as medicinal importance. This mini-review is mainly focused on the recent developments in the homogeneously and heterogeneously catalyzed carboxylation of alkenes and alkynes by using carbon dioxide as a reagent. We have highlighted various types of carboxylation reactions of alkenes and alkynes involving different catalytic systems, which comprise mainly C-H bond activation, hydrocarboxylation, carbocarboxylation, heterocarboxylation, and ring-closing carboxylation, including visible-light assisted synthesis processes. The mechanistic pathways of these carboxylation reactions have been described. Moreover, challenges and future perspectives of these carboxylation reactions are discussed.

Experimental Assessment of Perhydro-Dibenzyltoluene Dehydrogenation Reaction Kinetics in a Continuous Flow System for Stable Hydrogen Supply

The development of alternate clean energy resources is among the most pressing issues in the energy sector in order to preserve the global natural environment. One of the ideal candidates is the utilization of hydrogen as a primary fuel in lieu of fossil fuels. It can be safely stored in liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) materials and recovered on demand. A uniform supply of hydrogen is essential for power production systems for their smooth operation. This study was conducted to determine the operating conditions of the dehydrogenation of perhydro-dibenzyltoluene (H18-DBT) to ensure that hydrogen supply in a continuous flow reactor remains stable over a wide range of temperatures. The hydrogen flow rate from the dehydrogenation reaction was measured and correlated with the degree of dehydrogenation (DoD) evaluated from the refractive index of reactant liquid samples at various temperatures, WHSV and the initial reactant concentrations. Moreover, a kinetic model is presented holding validity up to a WHSV of 67 h⁻¹. The results acquired present a range for an order of reaction from 2.3 to 2.4 with the required activation energy of 171 kJ/mol.

Climate Change Inaction and Meaning

Continuing growth, insofar as it increases human environmental impact, is in conflict with the environment. ‘Green growth’, if it increases the absolute size of the economy, is an oxymoron. Environmental limits are discountenanced, a pretence made possible because they are difficult to specify in advance. The consequent weakness in public discourse, both moral and intellectual, has worsened into contradiction as it has become ever more studiously unadmitted. It is obscured with language that is misleading or self-contradictory, and even issues from institutions that exist (and are relied upon) to respect correctness. At its most conforming it gives rise to overshoot, by which statements meant to sound authoritative are in fact open to ridicule. Such untruthfulness perpetuates climate change inaction, and in a kind of direct action those using such language, contrary to their public or professional duty, could be asked to justify themselves in plain English.

Navigating Ecological Transformation: Resist–Accept–Direct as a Path to a New Resource Management Paradigm

Natural resource managers worldwide face a growing challenge: Intensifying global change increasingly propels ecosystems toward irreversible ecological transformations. This nonstationarity challenges traditional conservation goals and human well-being. It also confounds a longstanding management paradigm that assumes a future that reflects the past. As once-familiar ecological conditions disappear, managers need a new approach to guide decision-making. The resist–accept–direct (RAD) framework, designed for and by managers, identifies the options managers have for responding and helps them make informed, purposeful, and strategic choices in this context. Moving beyond the diversity and complexity of myriad emerging frameworks, RAD is a simple, flexible, decision-making tool that encompasses the entire decision space for stewarding transforming ecosystems. Through shared application of a common approach, the RAD framework can help the wider natural resource management and research community build the robust, shared habits of mind necessary for a new, twenty-first-century natural resource management paradigm.

Recent advances in low-temperature electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide

Since the onset of the industrial revolution, fossil fuels have been the primary source of energy generation, and the continued exploitation of fossil fuels has led to an increase in the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide. A lot of research currently focuses much on decreasing dependence on fossil fuels by replacing them with green energy. However, this technique poses a number of challenges, such as the need for improved infrastructure and technology and the high market penetration of renewable energy technologies. Capturing and converting carbon dioxide using electrochemical approaches can help to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas levels and create a positive future for the transformation of carbon dioxide into a number of value-added products. The conversion of carbon dioxide via electrochemical approach is a major challenge, and consideration must be given to the development and production of low-cost, stable, and highly efficient electrocatalysts. Hence, this review presents an overview of the current developments in the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide. In addition, this study discusses the current progress of electrocatalysts, in particular, the homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst, which has a high level of activity and selectivity of low overpotential preferred products. The overview of the mechanisms and kinetics of the carbon dioxide reduction using the computational method are also addressed.

Application of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Composites for Gas Sensing and Effects of Synthesis Strategies on Gas-Sensitive Performance

Gas sensing materials, such as semiconducting metal oxides (SMOx), carbon-based materials, and polymers have been studied in recent years. Among of them, SMOx-based gas sensors have higher operating temperatures; sensors crafted from carbon-based materials have poor selectivity for gases and longer response times; and polymer gas sensors have poor stability and selectivity, so it is necessary to develop high-performance gas sensors. As a porous material constructed from inorganic nodes and multidentate organic bridging linkers, the metal-organic framework (MOF) shows viable applications in gas sensors due to its inherent large specific surface area and high porosity. Thus, compounding sensor materials with MOFs can create a synergistic effect. Many studies have been conducted on composite MOFs with three materials to control the synergistic effects to improve gas sensing performance. Therefore, this review summarizes the application of MOFs in sensor materials and emphasizes the synthesis progress of MOF composites. The challenges and development prospects of MOF-based composites are also discussed.

Day-Ahead Solar Irradiance Forecasting Using Hybrid Recurrent Neural Network with Weather Classification for Power System Scheduling

At the present time, power-system planning and management is facing the major challenge of integrating renewable energy resources (RESs) due to their intermittent nature. To address this problem, a highly accurate renewable energy generation forecasting system is needed for day-ahead power generation scheduling. Day-ahead solar irradiance (SI) forecasting has various applications for system operators and market agents such as unit commitment, reserve management, and biding in the day-ahead market. To this end, a hybrid recurrent neural network is presented herein that uses the long short-term memory recurrent neural network (LSTM-RNN) approach to forecast day-ahead SI. In this approach, k-means clustering is first used to classify each day as either sunny or cloudy. Then, LSTM-RNN is used to learn the uncertainty and variability for each type of cluster separately to predict the SI with better accuracy. The exogenous features such as the dry-bulb temperature, dew point temperature, and relative humidity are used to train the models. Results show that the proposed hybrid model has performed better than a feed-forward neural network (FFNN), a support vector machine (SVM), a conventional LSTM-RNN, and a persistence model.

Impact of climate change on greenhouse gas emissions and water balance in a dryland-cropping region with variable precipitation

Wheat covers a significant fraction of the US Pacific Northwest (PNW) dryland agriculture. Past studies have suggested that management practices can differentially affect productivity and emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) across the different agro-ecological Zones (AEZs) in PNW. In this study we used CropSyst, a biophysically-based cropping systems model that simulates crop processes and water and nitrogen cycles, with the purpose of evaluating relevant scenarios and contributing analyses to inform adaptation and mitigation strategies aimed at reducing and managing the risks of climate change. We compared the baseline historical period of 1980-2010 with three future periods: 2015-2045 (2030s), 2035-2065 (2050s), and 2055-2085 (2070s). The uncertainty of the future climate was captured using 12 general circulation models (GCMs) forced with two representative carbon dioxide concentration pathways (RCP 4.5 and 8.5). The study region was divided into three AEZs: crop-fallow (CF), continuous cropping to fallow transition (CCF), and continuous cropping (CC). The results indicated that areas with higher precipitation, N fertilization, and mineralization produced more N₂O emissions during both baseline and future periods. The average annual N₂O emission during the baseline period was between 1.8 and 4.1 kg ha^-1 depending on AEZ. The overall N₂O emission showed decreasing future trends from 2030s to 2070s which resulted from a higher proportion of N used by crops. From 2015 to 2085 under RCP 4.5, the average N₂O emission was between 1.8 and 4.4 kg ha^-1 year^-1. They are slightly higher under RCP 8.5 since it is a warmer scenario. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content decreased during the baseline period while SOC did not reach equilibrium with the cropping systems considered in the study. SOC decreased during the future periods as well, with rate of change ranging from -146 to -352 kg ha^-1year^-1 depending on AEZ and RCP. Warming increased SOC oxidation in future scenarios, but after an initial increase of SOC losses during the 2030s period, the rate of SOC losses decreased in the 2050s, and more so in the 2070s as SOC and carbon input reached equilibrium with losses. Higher carbon input resulted from higher biomass production under elevated CO₂ scenarios. The total GHG emissions were 1.95, 3.16 and 4.84 Mg CO₂-equivalent ha^-1year^-1 under RCP 4.5, and 1.99, 3.43 and 5.49 Mg CO₂-equivalent ha^-1year^-1 under RCP 8.5 during 2070s in CF, CCF and CC respectively, with N₂O accounting for about 81% of total GHG emissions.

Investigation of Electrolyte-Dependent Carbonate Formation on Gas Diffusion Electrodes for CO2 Electrolysis

The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ (ECO₂R) is a promising method for reducing CO₂ emissions and producing carbon-neutral fuels if long-term durability of electrodes can be achieved by identifying and addressing electrode degradation mechanisms. This work investigates the degradation of gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) in a flowing, alkaline CO₂ electrolyzer via the formation of carbonate deposits on the GDE surface. These carbonate deposits were found to impede electrode performance after only 6 h of operation at current densities ranging from -50 to -200 mA cm^-2. The rate of carbonate deposit formation on the GDE surface was determined to increase with increasing electrolyte molarity and became more prevalent in K⁺-containing as opposed to Cs⁺-containing electrolytes. Electrolyte composition and concentration also had significant effects on the morphology, distribution, and surface coverage of the carbonate deposits. For example, carbonates formed in K⁺-containing electrolytes formed concentrated deposit regions of varying morphology on the GDE surface, while those formed in Cs⁺-containing electrolytes appeared as small crystals, well dispersed across the electrode surface. Both deposits occluding the catalyst layer surface and those found within the microporous layer and carbon fiber substrate of the electrode were found to diminish performance in ECO₂R, leading to rapid loss of CO production after ∼50% of the catalyst layer surface was occluded. Additionally, carbonate deposits reduced GDE hydrophobicity, leading to increased flooding and internal deposits within the GDE substrate. Electrolyte engineering-based solutions are suggested for improved GDE durability in future work.

Economics of Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic Systems Coupled to Heat Pumps: The Case of Northern Climates of the U.S. and Canada

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is now a profitable method to decarbonize the grid, but if catastrophic climate change is to be avoided, emissions from transportation and heating must also decarbonize. One approach to renewable heating is leveraging improvements in PV with heat pumps (HPs). To determine the potential for PV+HP systems in northern areas of North America, this study performs numerical simulations and economic analysis using the same loads and climate, but with local electricity and natural gas rates for Sault Ste. Marie, in both Canada and U.S. Ground-mounted, fixed-tilt, grid-tied PV systems are sized to match 100% of electric loads considering cases both with and without air source HPs for residences with natural gas-based heating. For the first time the results show North American residents can profitably install residential PV+HP systems, earning up to 1.9% return in the U.S. and 2.7% in Canada, to provide for all of their electric and heating needs. Returns on PV-only systems are higher, up to 4.3%; however, the PV capacities are less than half. These results suggest northern homeowners have a clear and simple method to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by making an investment that offers a higher internal rate of return than savings accounts, CDs and GICs in both countries. Residential PV and solar-powered heat pumps can be considered 25-year investments in financial security and environmental sustainability.

Engagement with health in national climate change commitments under the Paris Agreement: a global mixed-methods analysis of the nationally determined contributions

BACKGROUND

Instituted under the Paris Agreement, nationally determined contributions (NDCs) outline countries' plans for mitigating and adapting to climate change. They are the primary policy instrument for protecting people's health in the face of rising global temperatures. However, evidence on engagement with health in the NDCs is scarce. In this study, we aimed to examine how public health is incorporated in the NDCs, and how different patterns of engagement might be related to broader inequalities and tensions in global climate politics.

METHODS

We analysed the NDCs in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change registry submitted by 185 countries. Using content analysis and natural language processing (NLP) methods, we developed measures of health engagement. Multivariate regression analyses examined whether country-level factors (eg, population size, gross domestic product [GDP], and climate-related exposures) were associated with greater health engagement. Using NLP methods, we compared health engagement with other climate-related challenges (ie, economy, energy, and agriculture) and examined broader differences in the keyword terms used in countries with high and low health engagement in their NDCs.

FINDINGS

Countries that did not mention health in their NDCs were clustered in high-income countries, whereas greater health engagement was concentrated in low-income and middle-income countries. Having a low GDP per capita and being a small island developing state were associated with higher levels of health engagement. In addition, higher levels of population exposure to temperature change and ambient air pollution were associated with more health coverage included in a country's NDC. Variation in health engagement was greater than for other climate-related issues and reflected wider differences in countries' approaches to the NDCs.

INTERPRETATION

A focus on health in the NDCs follows broader patterns of global inequalities. Poorer and climate-vulnerable countries that contribute least to climate change are more likely to engage with health in their NDCs, while richer countries focus on non-health sectors in their NDCs, such as energy and the economy.

FUNDING

This work was in part funded through an unrestricted grant from the Wellcome Trust and supported by The Economic and Social Research Council.

Food Next Door: From Food Literacy to Citizenship on a College Campus

Industrial agriculture and food corporations have produced an abundance of food that is highly processed, nutritionally poor, and environmentally burdensome. As part of a healthy campus initiative, generated to address these and other food production and consumption dilemmas, a student-run “local and sustainable” food establishment called Food Next Door (FND) was created. This intrinsic case study evaluated food literacy in health science students, faculty, and staff first as a pilot to build the case for FND and further explicated customers’, volunteers’, and leads’ experiences with FND, identifying potential pathways from food literacy to citizenship. Ten returning customers, eight recurring nutrition student volunteers, and three graduate student leads participated in interviews that were analyzed for themes and subthemes. The findings show a progression in themes. Customers’ experiences highlight FND’s fresh, flavorful food, smiling and supportive staff, and personal transformation. Volunteers’ themes identified greater awareness of new foods and plant-based eating, acquiring new knowledge and skills in commercial kitchens, and deepening their connection to food, each other, and to where food comes from. Leads’ themes show opportunities to gain managerial skills, a deeper understanding of food and skills from being immersed in value-based food systems, and confidence in peer teaching. Experiencing and becoming part of the food value chain through FND built food literacy, shifted values, and transformed students into food citizens.

Navigating Climate Change: Rethinking the Role of Buildings

This paper focuses on the design of buildings as part of society’s response to the climate crisis in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws on a broad literature to address two interrelated goals—first, to align regenerative development and design with the necessary bottom-up adaptation strategies and human agency, and second, to identify new, broader possible roles of buildings and responsibilities of design professionals. This required a comparison of current green building and emerging regenerative approaches and identifying the relevant characteristics of top-down and bottom-up mechanisms. The paper accepts that adaptation to climate change will, to a large extent, depend on people’s day-to-day actions in the places they live, and argues that the built environment will have to be infused with the capability to enable inhabitants’ greater agency. Viewing buildings as playing a connective role in the existing urban fabric seriously challenges the primacy of the individual building as the focus of environmental strategies. The roles of building design professionals will likely expand to include mediating between top-down imposed government controls and increasing bottom-up neighborhood-scale social activism.